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"While EG.5 has shown increased prevalence, growth advantage, and immune escape properties, there have been no reported changes in disease severity to date," the Health Department said.

"There is no doubt that many sectors will be positively impacted from the accommodation, transportation, food, security, logistics, and hospitality establishments, with the majority of them already fully booked," the Gauteng Tourism Authority said.

"Johannesburg will be expected – if there is load shedding on the day – to make its contribution to ensuring we protect the grid," Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa said.

"This is a result of a sting operation that was put together after observing certain trends that were suspicious and did not make sense," Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi said.

South Africa's former president Jacob Zuma reported back to prison on Friday only to be swiftly released, in a government move lashed by the opposition as a "monumental insult" to the public.

Violence in Cape Town eased after a week-long minibus taxi strike that paralysed the city and left five dead including a British tourist, police confirmed on Thursday.

"It is with great disappointment that we must announce that the talks between the government and the Santaco leadership, which took place in an attempt to resolve the cause for the taxi stay away, was suspended," Santaco's leadership said.

"Twenty of these actions are on track so essentially what that means is that we are in keeping with the timelines that we had set for ourselves. Twelve of these actions are delayed but progressing well," Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa said.

Niger closed its airspace due to the "threat of intervention" as the junta defied a deadline from the West African bloc ECOWAS to reinstate democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum or face possible military action.

"Reviewed progress in bilateral cooperation as we celebrate the 30th anniversary of our diplomatic relations. Look forward to participating in the BRICS Summit in Johannesburg later this month," Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted.

City of Johannesburg City Manager, Floyd Brink shared that the officials flew their drones into those tunnels to check if there were any signs of "black scorch from a fire" but there were no such marks found. Furthermore, he turned down the speculations behind the blast including illegal mining underground or gas leakage.

"The Mmamabula-Lephalale rail link will be operated as one seamless service with no stopovers at the SA-Botswana border. On completion, the rail link is expected to deliver significant socioeconomic benefits such as a shift from road to rail," as per the notice.

"They are openly pushing for the genocide of white people in South Africa. Why do you say nothing?" Elon Musk questioned South African President, Cyril Ramaphosa.

Out of 25 ongoing projects located in the Western Cape, Northern Cape, and Eastern Cape, 22 projects will be providing 24 gigawatts by 2033.

The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC) and the Japanese International Cooperation Agency signed a technical cooperation agreement, which will be implemented through a training program called Quality and Productivity Improvement (QPI).

"If that were to happen, we are going to lose an aggregate 1840 MW- two units having gone out there at the same time. It is something we are trying to avert and like I said, I will come back because there are additional questions that were not responded to when I met with the team at Koeberg," Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa said.

A body was found in central Johannesburg early Thursday after an unexplained blast ripped through a busy street at rush hour the previous evening, the emergency services said.

"These patients have been chosen according to surgical backlog lists at every hospital, and incorporates waiting time and prioritization according to clinical needs," Gauteng Health Department spokesperson said.

"Government is implementing urgent measures to reduce load-shedding in the short term and transform the sector through market reforms to achieve long-term energy security," National Treasury said.

"I want to express our sincere and profuse apology for having taken you through a very difficult stage of intensive load shedding," Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa said.

The e-hailing drivers demanded attention from the companies as well as the government, noting that they will be going on strike on Monday.

South Africa's graft-tainted ex-leader Jacob Zuma is receiving medical treatment in Russia, his spokesman said Friday, a day after the country's highest court upheld a ruling that he should return to prison. "Zuma travelled to Russia last week for health reasons," the 81-year-old's spokesman Mzwanele Manyi said in a statement. Manyi added that the trip "was private, it was not a secret," after the information was published by local media.

"For South Africa, expanding digital infrastructure is one of the primary engines of economic growth [and] the development of information technology is key to the competitiveness of our economy," President Cyril Ramaphosa said.

"Brics continues to grow stronger, more reliable, and more influential as a platform that advances the common interests of the global south. Through joint efforts, Brics is today a force for progressive change in global affairs and cannot be ignored," the African National Congress (ANC) treasurer-general, Gwen Ramokgopa said.

"Let us build better, stronger, and safer rural communities. Let us leave no one behind," President Cyril Ramaphosa said.

South African Police launched a manhunt after a mass shooting incident in the township of KwaNobuhle near the town of Kariega in the Eastern Cape province. Police revealed that five men and one woman were killed in the mass shooting while three men and one woman were wounded.

"In light of Mandela Day, we are calling on everyone — food donors, partners, corporates and the South African public — to join us in our mission by pledging a symbolic donation representing Mandela's 67 years of service," Alan Browde said.

The City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality and the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) announced last month measures to resolve the water crisis that was responsible for the cholera outbreak.

"Due to high demand and slight reduction in generation capacity, Stage 4 loadshedding will be implemented at 13:00 today until 05:00 on Tuesday," Eskom said. The company, which has been applauded lately for a significant decline in load shedding, took to Twitter on Monday to announce the update, which is likely to upset many. In the last few weeks, South Africans experienced a drastic drop from 12 hours daily to only two hours on a daily basis.